1

Software Engineer Cpt Opt Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

Lead Software Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

Lead Software Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

Lead Software Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

Lead Software Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

Lead Software Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

Lead Software Engineer Do you love building and pioneering in the technology space? Do you enjoy ... H1B, F-1 OPT, F-1 STEM OPT, F-1 CPT, J-1, TN, E-2, E-3, L-1 and O-1, or any EADs or other forms of ...

next page

Showing results 1-20

Software Engineer Cpt Opt information

See Chicago, IL salary details

$65.4K

$152K

$211.7K

How much do software engineer cpt opt jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 15, 2026, the average yearly pay for software engineer cpt opt in Chicago, IL is $151,971.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $123,600.00 and $178,200.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a software engineer CPT OPT?

To thrive as a Software Engineer on CPT/OPT, you need a solid background in computer science fundamentals, programming languages (such as Java, Python, or C++), and typically a related degree. Familiarity with development tools like Git, integrated development environments (IDEs), version control systems, and knowledge of software frameworks is essential, with internships or certifications adding value. Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and effective teamwork set candidates apart in collaborative and fast-changing tech environments. These skills and qualifications are crucial for delivering high-quality software solutions and integrating smoothly into diverse engineering teams.

What are common challenges faced by software engineers working under CPT or OPT status, and how can they overcome them?

Software Engineers on CPT (Curricular Practical Training) or OPT (Optional Practical Training) often face unique challenges such as navigating work authorization timelines, adapting quickly to new work cultures, and ensuring compliance with visa regulations. It's important to maintain proactive communication with both your employer and university's international office regarding work hours and documentation. Building strong technical skills, seeking mentorship, and staying updated on immigration policies can help you excel in your role and plan for potential long-term opportunities, such as H-1B sponsorship.

What is a software engineer CPT OPT?

Software Engineer CPT (Curricular Practical Training) and OPT (Optional Practical Training) positions are job roles specifically for international students in the United States on F-1 visas. CPT allows students to work in jobs related to their field of study while still enrolled in school, whereas OPT enables them to gain work experience after graduation. These roles typically involve software development, coding, and problem-solving tasks in a professional setting. Employers often provide opportunities for students to apply their academic knowledge in real-world software engineering projects, helping them build practical skills for their future careers.

What job categories do people searching Software Engineer Cpt Opt jobs in Chicago, IL look for?

The top searched job categories for Software Engineer Cpt Opt jobs in Chicago, IL are:

What cities near Chicago, IL are hiring for Software Engineer Cpt Opt jobs?

Cities near Chicago, IL with the most Software Engineer Cpt Opt job openings:

Infographic showing various Software Engineer Cpt Opt job openings in Chicago, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 75% Full Time, and 25% Contract. Highlights an 75% In-person, and 25% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $151,971 per year, or $73.1 per hour.

Campus Software Engineer (Intern)

Jump Trading

Chicago, IL • On-site

$250K/yr

Other

Re-posted 7 days ago


Job description

Jump Trading Group is committed to world class research. We empower exceptional talents in Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science to seek scientific boundaries, push through them, and apply cutting edge research to global financial markets. Our culture is unique. Constant innovation requires fearlessness, creativity, intellectual honesty, and a relentless competitive streak. We believe in winning together and unlocking unique individual talent by incenting collaboration and mutual respect. At Jump, research outcomes drive more than superior risk adjusted returns. We design, develop, and deploy technologies that change our world, fund start-ups across industries, and partner with leading global research organizations and universities to solve problems.

Core Development is a global team of technologists who lean into the cutting edge of agentic development to architect, build and maintain our world-class trading platform From optimizing our core trading engine to building custom hardware, we leverage the latest agentic tools to deliver the infrastructure that drives our trading and business needs.

What You'll Do:

Our software engineering internship is an intensive 10-week experience with our technology team that designs, codes, tests, and maintains our distributed trading system and one of the world's largest supercomputers.

You will be working side by side with our experienced software engineers and will receive ongoing coaching from a dedicated mentor throughout the summer. Our internship program is the primary way we identify top young software engineers for our core development team, and it's a proven path for earning full-time opportunities at Jump.

Over the course of the summer, you will take on projects working on production code and gain experience with our full-cycle process for development, testing, and release using Agile methodologies. You will apply your programming and analysis skills to contribute to our real-time large-scale, high-performance trading platform and related infrastructure.

Other duties as assigned or needed

Skills You'll Need:

  • Hands-on experience and a high level of proficiency in one or more of the following:
  • C++ development on Linux platform
  • Python development on Linux platform
  • Strong understanding of data structures and threading models
  • Ability to work with a team in a fast-paced environment, deploying new software daily
  • Passion for solving complex problems and learning to build optimal solutions from scratch, instead of simply assembling things from existing libraries
  • Interest in using knowledge from several areas -- such as hardware, networking, OS design -- to produce extremely high-performance software
  • Reliable and predictable availability

Also Helpful, but Not Required:

  • Past internship or job experience in a software development role is a plus
  • Advanced coursework in algorithms, network programming, operating systems, compilers
  • Experience with AI tools like Claude Code in a real work environment
  • No finance or economics study or work experience required

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS are encouraged to apply. We accept students eligible for CPT/OPT and we sponsor work visas for full-time positions

The estimated base salary for this role is $250,000 per year.